Guidelines for Analytical Paper 

You must write a critical analysis of 1,250 to 1,500 words (5-6 pages) on some aspect of the literature we cover in the course. The primary focus of your analysis should be on your interpretation of the literature we study rather than what the critics say. At the same time, you must include in your analysis references to at least five outside, scholarly sources (this does not include encyclopedias or trivial, non-academic sources like Cliff Notes and so on); at least one of these sources must be accessed from the Internet. You may want to look carefully at the bibliography in the course syllabus as you begin to work on your research.

In approaching your analysis, remember that your main task is to explain as clearly and fully as possible your thesis sentence; that is, you must attempt to bring out the significance of your thesis sentence by analyzing metaphor, simile, paradox, irony, personification, imagery, meter, and rhyme scheme, or by discussing theme, characterization, biblical influence/allusion, or similar concerns.  Furthermore, avoid a shallow, superficial approach to your research and writing.  In this regard, be sure to do an in depth, detailed study of your thesis sentence, relying primarily on your own interpretation, commentary, analysis, reflection, synthesis, and discussion; use the critical sources either to support arguments you make or to advance the scholarly debate your thesis sentence addresses.

The paper should have at least a paragraph of introduction with a clearly stated thesis sentence. In the body of the paper you should quote freely from the texts being analyzed and to a lesser degree from scholarly sources. Students who do poorly on this paper most often fail to quote specific passages from the texts being analyzed in order to support arguments or points of development. In addition, there is no substitute for careful, coherent, and relevant research; vague, generalized, non-specific, "off-the-cuff" remarks are not acceptable.

Finally, I will evaluate your paper according to three criteria in descending order of importance. First and foremost, I will note if your content is meaningful, thoughtful, and logical. I will look to see if you are "shooting the bull." If so, I will not hesitate to mark it as such. Second, I will study your paper to see if it is well-researched, well-documented, well-organized, neat, and easy to read. If you are uncertain about proper documentation techniques, refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Lastly, I will check the grammatical accuracy of you paper.

Due April 25, 2008 by midnight.